Ashesh

Map	Basic Data		Planetary Image
	Name:	Ashesh
	Segmentum:	Tempestus
	Sector:	Eternum
	Subsector:	Caligulas
	System:	Lone Vigil
	Population:	N/A
	Affiliation:	Imperial
	Class:	Dead World
	Tithe Grade:	Adeptus Non

Overview

The dead world known as Ashesh was once an important Munitorum depot world that was lost during the First Poxwar. Ashesh possessed massive storehouses of munitions, weaponry, and ordnance for the Imperium's use against the nascent Bubonic Rift, but these supplies formed an appealing target for the Imperium's enemies. Battlefleet Caligulas, now led by the Vice Admiral Vickers Leach aboard the Apocalypse class Battleship Ark Royal after the devastating loss of the Battlefleet's flagship and admiral,was ordered to fall back and rally around the supply world Ashesh where the Crimson Hammer's second and third company fleets were regrouping after isolated skirmishes. Low on fuel and supplies, Ashesh was the only world reachable by both that could keep the fleets fighting.

The traitor fleets were not far behind however, as Ashesh was a priority target for its massive caches of weapons and supplies. With the arrival of the bulk of Battlefleet Eternum's reinforcements too far away, and knowing they were severely outnumbered and outgunned, the Crimson Hammer and Vice Admiral devised a trap to allow a fighting retreat, buying enough time to allow both to continue to fight and dealing a blow to the traitors in one fell swoop. The defenders of Ashesh, the PDF, stationed Guard regiments, and Crimson Hammer marines dug in while tech-priests worked tirelessly to prepare. The remnants of Battlefleet Caligulas and the ground side defenders had only one goal - buy enough time for the tech-priests to finish their work.

As expected, the Plaguehost arrived in orbit and began disgorging scores of heretic marines, traitor Guard, and plague-zombies while the terrifying fleet led by the Rotbelcher flagship engaged Imperial vessels. Millenia old ships were destroyed in massive impacts, lighting the world with the falling wreckage of Imperial and traitor ship alike. The battle on the ground turned Ashesh red and green with blood and pus, raging for weeks. Although the defenders fought fervently, slowly the tireless advance of the Rotbelchers and their plague victims saw the remaining defenders whittled down and pushed to the last stronghold,where the tech-priests worked. In orbit, the defense fleet fared little better, with only enough combat capable ships for one last push - a push that would soon be critically needed.

The tech-priests finished their work as the battle raged outside, yet one final action was needed - a cyclonic torpedo targeted directly at the fortress, an area of space controlled by the Rotbelcher fleet. With one final push, the Ark Royal and remnants of Battlefleet Caligulas plunged into the heretic fleet, fighting a pivotal battle that saw them successfully launch the cyclonic torpedo. With their fate set, the remaining defenders looked up as the ordnance streaked through the sky, landing on top of the destabilized geothermal planetary power station. The force of the torpedo impacting the planetary core ejected oceans of lava out of fissures, burning space and all life on Ashesh, destroying the world but dealing a harsh blow to the invaders. Crippled by the ejection, the ships that survived on both sides fled the flak fields generated by the ejecta of the world, and while Vice Admiral Vickers died during his offensive, the Ark Royal survived though terribly wounded and out of commission for the remainder of the war while the remnants of Battlefleet Caligulas would be seconded to other subsector Battlefleets for the rest of the first Poxwar. The Plaguehost had been dealt a blow, though at great cost and far too weak to stop it. Ashesh has remained a dead world, with not even the ancient orbital listening posts manned by the Imperium, though occasionally pirates and other unsavory groups will use the barren grounds as a hideout.